Our Bariatric Surgical Team
Tiffany
Tiffany was born and raised in Pennsylvania and attended DeSales University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She pursued her career as a surgical ICU nurse at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and eventually cardiac disease management and personal training. In 2004, Tiffany joined Dr. Bass in developing a bariatric surgery program and Center of Excellence program in Hollywood, FL, and eventually expanded the practice to southwest Florida, Gulf Coast Bariatrics. She is a nationally certified bariatric nurse with extensive experience as a bariatric program coordinator. She is passionate about helping bariatric surgery patients gain access to a much needed tool to assist them in a healthier and happier life.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband as they partake in horseback bird-dog field trial competitions, relaxing at the ranch with the animals, running, and pretty much anything active outdoors.
Cassandra Golden Sampson MS, RD, LDN, MIEP
Cassandra is a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist, and a Mindful & Instinctive Eating PractitionerTM. After recovering from a personal battle with binge eating disorder, Cassandra has dedicated her career to teaching the art of mindful and instinctive eating. Cassandra now owns a telehealth-based private practice offering one-on-one nutrition counseling and online courses.
Since 2013, Cassandra has worked alongside hundreds of clients on their personal journeys toward making peace with food. Each nutrition service is rooted in the principles of mindful and instinctive eating, which is a judgment-free eating technique that ultimately reduces health risks by preventing disordered eating patterns and psychological distress. Cassandra’s role as a dietitian has shifted from handing out meal plans to helping others heal their relationship with food.
Cassandra holds a Master’s Degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from the University of South Florida. She has served as a nutrition expert for local media outlets to deliver accurate and trustworthy information to communities across southwest Florida. Cassandra has also written a cookbook, loves to teach Zumba fitness classes, is a volunteer captain at her local food pantry and strives to live life on purpose with intention.
Sharon
Support Group Facilitator
Sharon has been a part of the Gulf Coast Bariatrics team since 2006. She brings with her a background in psych nursing, addictions counseling and her own personal struggle of obesity.
Amber
Amber has been a part of the Gulf Coast Bariatrics team since 2010. Amber is the first person to greet you when you call the office or arrive at the office for your first consultation appointment. Amber is integral to navigating patients through the preoperative weight loss surgery journey, including the challenging part of understanding your insurance benefits. She is one of your biggest cheerleaders, taking great pride in seeing patients get their surgery date and improving their quality of life.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and, most of all, her Siberian Husky, Kaspian. Her hobbies include reading a good book, long walks with her dog, and family time by the pool.